An infant can triple her weight in the first year. She can grow a quarter inch to half an inch in length each month, and, in the same time period, transform from being carried in the arms of loved ones to walking around the home on her own. With so much change going on, it’s important to capture each moment and milestone in pictures.

A few of Orange County’s top professional photographers offer tips for taking the best photos of your baby:

JODI BETANCOURT of Jodi B Photography

Use the golden hour. The two hours before sunset offer spectacular lighting that professional photographers bank on for their outdoor sessions.

Choose a simple backdrop. The pure simplicity of a white comforter can be amazing, and it’s also a great natural light diffuser. Blank walls and comforters can be awesome canvases for a photo shoot.

Keep it fun. Talk and play with baby, THEN snap a photo. Try to make it stress-free, otherwise baby may pick up on your performance expectations – and that can backfire on you. Make all the faces you can, be silly and playful, and snap away – baby will love it!

JodiBphotography.com

LAURA RAUCH of Laura Rauch Photography

Capture natural emotion. When it comes to saying “cheese,” say “no.” Your best bet to get a great-looking expression is to get your baby to laugh or smile without thinking about it. Act goofy or ask her about something that she really enjoys. Young children like to talk about a favorite toy or character, and you can see the joy through their eyes as they think about it. Play a game with her. Peek-a-boo or silly sounds work really well. Use this time as an opportunity to create natural unposed pictures of your child, building with blocks, reading a book, playing on the swings or even making a sand castle.

Be aware of your surroundings. Keep in mind the setting around your baby. Move a few steps either way to improve your photo backdrop.

Adjust your photos. There are a lot of simple editing software products that do not require expertise in Photoshop. My favorite is Adobe Lightroom, because it is extremely user friendly. You can use custom presets to create an artistic look or to change a color photo to a classic black-and-white image.

Sit back. Probably the most important tip: When you find yourself witnessing a moment where you wish you had your camera, just sit back and enjoy.

laurarauchphoto.com

JEN GAGLIARDI of Jen Gagliardi Photography

Look for soft, natural light. Lighting is so important with photography, and soft light from a window or door in your home can be very flattering, compared to a flash. Make sure to have the light flow through the top of baby’s head, rather than from below. It will give beautiful shadows and highlights to baby’s skin.

Warm it up. When photographing a newborn, a warm room will keep her relaxed. A space heater, located safely away from baby, can be an easy solution.

Keep it simple. Use soft neutral-toned blankets or throws. You want to look back at your images five or 10 years from now and still be in LOVE with them.

jengagliardi.com

CHRISTIE HOBSON of Christie Hobson Photography

Get on their level. Crouch, sit or lie down to see your baby’s world. Shooting down on your baby gives an observer’s perspective, while being down on the ground with her is far more effective.

Shoot for scale. Babies grow so fast! Take monthly photos of your baby with her favorite toy and line them up in a frame for comparison.

Pass the camera. Speaking from experience, you will regret not being in enough photos with your baby. If you are the main photographer in your family, request that you appear in the baby photos, too.

Draw attention. If you would like to get a shot of your newborn looking at the camera, take a white object such as a burp cloth and wave it in front of you. She’ll tend to focus her attention on the brightest shape she sees. Newborns can only see blurry shapes until about the end of 3 months.

Use muted clothing. When photographing a newborn, you want the main focus to be on her face, not on what she is wearing. Bring the focus to her face by avoiding large flowery headbands and bright patterned clothing.

Choose the right time. Newborns do best in the morning hours after they have been fed. If you want a sleepy baby shot, give them a full feeding.

Consider the style. Think about the kinds of shots you are looking for before you start shooting. Most people have a particular style of photography they are drawn to, whether it’s portraiture (subject-focused images with subtle backgrounds), a lifestyle approach (moment-focused images) or something else. Knowing the kind of photo you’re most inspired by is key to loving your end result.

Choose the right time. Most likely, your little one does not wake up and fall asleep “camera ready” every day. Most kiddos are great after sleeping, but others tend to do better in the evening.

Find the right location. Outside, opt for a large shaded area like under a big tree or near the shady side of a fence. Indoors, use door and window light to your advantage. I like to use bedrooms so we can shut the door; when I have to chase a little one around to different locations in a house, the light can quickly change.

Work without your flash. I know most people see the flash as a necessity. However, to capture rich images that have depth and appear as you see them just before you shoot, turn it off. Depending on the quality of your camera, this may make indoor images challenging; so read your manual to better understand your cameras non-flash capabilities. Trust me, this will improve the overall look of your images tenfold. In addition, little ones can be startled by bright flashes – which don’t exactly create the adorable moment you’re looking to capture!

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